ICL backs ~~untouchables~~ fight against ECB ban

London: Indian Cricket League (ICL) will support international cricketers if they plan to bring legal action against the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) if the later rejects the appeals of players involved in the ICL to also play county cricket.

Last month the ECB rejected the registration applications of five 'untouchable' players - for having played in so called rebel league ICL - to play domestic cricket in England in 2008.

Northamptonshire were hit the hardest by the rejection with doubts over the futures of South African all-rounders Andrew Hall - who is set to appear for ICL team Chandigarh Lions - and Johannes van der Wath, who is in the Mumbai Champs squad.

Wavell Hinds (Derbyshire), Justin Kemp (Kent) and Hamish Marshall (Gloucestershire) were the other three players, while Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler, was also subject to similar action by the New Zealand Cricket Board who refused to grant him registration to play for Hampshire.

The ECB explained that unqualified cricketers who required a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to be registered for the English domestic season were unlikely to receive one if they participated in 'unauthorized' events, reported The Nation.

ICL Business Head Himanshu Mody confirmed that the league would support all of the players if they sought legal action to enable them to register for their respective counties.

Tom Richardson, the Gloucestershire chief executive, is hopeful the appeal will enable Marshall to take up his contract with the county before the season starts.

"We have made representations and those will be heard at their next meeting. I wouldn't say I'm confident, I'd say we'll work very hard to get him out playing on April 16. That's our aim, to get him playing for us then. So we'll leave it until April 9 and see what result we get then," said Richardson

Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, is optimistic Bond will be able to take up his contract at the Rose Bowl. "We've been working hard with the ECB. Hopefully next week we'll have some positive news. We're quite hopeful Shane will start the season for us."